An inquest is an investigation into the cause and circumstances of a death. Laws vary from state to state and the circumstances under which an inquest may be required are usually specified in a state’s statutes.

For example, if a person dies in a county with a medical examiner, the medical examiner (or authorized deputy) may be required to conduct an inquest under the these and other circumstances:

• when a person dies within 24 hours after being admitted to a hospital or institution, or dies in prison or jail;

• when a person is killed, or dies from an unnatural cause of death (unless executed by the state for a crime), or dies without one or more good witnesses;

• when the body or a body part of a person is found, and the cause or circumstances of death are unknown;

• when the circumstances of the death of any person lead to suspicion the person died by unlawful means;

• when any person commits suicide, or the circumstances of the person's death lead to suspicion the person committed suicide;

• when a person dies without having been attended by a duly licensed and practicing physician, and the local health officer or registrar required to report the cause of death does not know the cause of death;

• when the person is a child and the death is required to be reported by law; and

• when a person dies who has been attended immediately preceding death by a duly licensed and practicing physician or physicians, and such physician or physicians are not certain as to the cause of death and are unable to certify with certainty the cause of death.

In North Dakota, an inquest is a formal judicial inquiry to determine the cause and circumstances of a death, particularly when the death is sudden, unexpected, or suspicious. The North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) outlines the conditions under which an inquest may be necessary. According to NDCC 11-19.1-04, the coroner or a designated public official must be notified and may conduct an inquest if a death occurs under various circumstances, such as deaths within 24 hours of hospital admission, deaths in prison, unnatural deaths, deaths without witnesses, found bodies, deaths by suspected unlawful means, suspected suicides, deaths without medical attendance, or when the cause of death is uncertain even with a physician's attendance. The coroner has the authority to summon a jury to assist in determining the cause of death if deemed necessary. The findings from an inquest can be used to inform a death certificate and may lead to further legal or criminal proceedings if foul play is suspected.